A Hungarian appeals court in Budapest on Wednesday reduced the prison sentence of German activist Maja T. from eight years to seven years. The decision follows a lower‑court ruling that had handed down an eight‑year term for participation in violent attacks against suspected extremist right sympathisers during a 2023 rally.
Background of the case
Maja T., identified only by initials, traveled to Hungary as part of a group of anti‑fascist activists intent on countering a far‑right rally. The activist was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and later transferred to Hungarian authorities to stand trial. In February, a lower court sentenced Maja T. to eight years in prison.
Appeals court reasoning
The appeals court judge explained that the sentence was reduced because, for one of the two counts, Maja T. should be considered an accomplice rather than a co‑perpetrator. The judge also concluded that the activist should not be classified as a member of an organised criminal group, which lowered the severity of the punishment.
Legal and political context
The case attracted international attention after Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled in February 2025 that the extradition of Maja T., who identifies as non‑binary, to Hungary was unlawful. The German court found the extradition violated the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was removed from office in an April election, Hungary introduced anti‑LGBTQ+ policies that the European Union says discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Hungarian authorities have since assured that non‑binary prisoners are not subject to discrimination or violence while incarcerated.
Other defendants
The trial also involved several other individuals. Italian teacher Ilaria Salis, the first accused, was released from house arrest in June 2024 after being elected to the European Parliament. Prosecutors had sought an eleven‑year sentence for Salis, who, along with her family, maintains her innocence.
Other participants in the anti‑fascist actions have faced similar charges, but the appeals court’s decision marks the first reduction of a sentence in this high‑profile case.
Implications
The reduced sentence may influence future prosecutions of cross‑border political activism and highlights ongoing tensions between European human‑rights standards and national judicial decisions. It also underscores the scrutiny placed on Hungary’s justice system following the departure of the Orbán government.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
